Lady Patriots beat Edmond North again – this time for the title

NORMAN – Putnam City West sophomore Da’Nae Jefferson took a pass from senior Shamar Bert with 19.1 seconds left in the Class 6A State Girls Basketball Championship Saturday (March 9) at Lloyd Noble Center. The Lady Patriots trailed by two points (40-38) to power Edmond North, who were seeking their third straight championship.

Jefferson had an opportunity to shoot a 3-pointer from the right wing, but as Lady Husky senior star Alison Heathcock came out to meet her, she slipped to the floor. Sensing an opening to the bucket, Jefferson drove to the middle, drawing contact from North sophomore Kyndal Williams.

Jefferson lofted a shot toward the bucket. It bounced off the back iron and settled in the hoop. Tie ballgame with a free throw to come to give West its first state championship in girls basketball since 1981.

Jefferson, who led all scorers with 12 points, sank the free throw, giving West a 41-40 lead and cementing the Lady Patriots’ comeback from a double-digit deficit.

West, who fell to Edmond North in the semifinals last season would rely on Jefferson down the stretch to get to that point. The Lady Huskies were in control with a 10-point lead with 3:20 left in the third quarter. The win would have avenged North’s loss to West Jan. 20 which ended their 47-game winning streak.

The Lady Patriots cut that deficit in half by the end of the quarter (34-29).

All through the fourth quarter, West stayed in striking distance. The momentum was shifting North’s way when Shamar Bert hit a catch-and-shoot trey with 3:40 left to make it, 38-36, North.

“I just know we needed something to switch the momentum. That’s all.” Shamar Bert said. “I was wide open and  I knew I had the green light. Coach told me if I’m open, shoot it.”

Lady Husky freshman Kinzie Hazzard hit a shot to extend the lead to 40-36.

West pulled back within two points on free throws from Jefferson with 1:27 left (40-38). Jefferson scored nine of her 12 points in the final period.

“I had to make sure my teammates, we had one goal at the beginning of the season, and I wanted to finish that with this team,” Da’Nae Jefferson said. “So we persevered through the season and finished off with a ring.”

West coach Ja’Ron Jefferson (and Da’Nae’s dad) remembered the heartbreak of taking North to brink last season. It served as a reminder throughout the season and after his daughter hit the “and one” shot. North still had 14.6 seconds left.

“We didn’t wanna have the same feeling that we had last year in that locker room.” Ja”Ron Jefferson said. “I told them the other day, I said to get to it, you had to go through it.

“I kept telling them that for the last 14 seconds. I said, well, we’re right here. So, I mean, it’s not going to be easy. If it’s easy, everybody could do it. So, you know, we did it.”

Edmond North had opportunities to win the game in the last 14 seconds. Their last opportunity came on senior Kate Melton’s desperation shot with two seconds left. The ball hit the glass left of the bucket. West junior Jazzlin Brown grabbed her game-high ninth rebound and the celebration began.

Jefferson added five rebounds to go along with her 12 points. Shamar Bert finished with 10 points and three rebounds. Sophomore Kiana Gray added seven points on 3-of-5 shooting.

Edmond North sophomore Grace Jackson and Melton each scored 11 points. Heathcock added nine points and seven rebounds in the loss.

COACH DAD

Ja’Ron Jefferson has emphasized to his daughter to look at him as coach on the court rather than her dad. But after the win, he sat back and reflected on her accomplishment.

“I’m so proud of her right now that she finally decided to listen to me as coach and not dad.” Da’Nae’s dad said. “I’ve been on the tough. She sees why I’m on the tough. Because at the end of the day, she’s a state champ now as a sophomore.”

FIRST GOLD BALL SINCE ’81

Putnam City West’s last gold ball in girls basketball was in 1981 when West defeated John Marshall to win the Class 5A crown. Current Putnam City School District Athletic Director (and former West boys basketball coach) Dick Balenseifen was a sophomore basketball and baseball player at West.

Ja’Ron Jefferson is aware of the significance of leaving a mark on the program.

“I told them a long time ago, what do you want to leave at the school after you graduate? Do you want to leave a legacy, because every time you come back to this school, there’s going to be a picture and a trophy with your name on it, and they cannot take that away from you,” Jefferson said. “So leave something behind that your kids can see when they come back.”

TEAM	1	2	3	4	F
Edmond North	11	9	11	6	40
Putnam City West	9	8	12	12	41